Yeah, I totally suck at titles, XD

I'm having a total mental block on my other story so I decided to start this two-shot to get those creative juices flowing again. It's my first time writing Animorphs so I hope it's OK! Please R and R!

Disclaimer: I own diddly squat. .


Tobias

My name is Tobias.

If you ask a casual birdwatcher, they'd explain that I'm a red-tailed hawk, or Buteo jamaicensis.

If you ask Rachel, she'd insist I'm a human.

If you ask Ax, he'd inform you that I'm a northit.

Or, if by some strange Ellimist-like power, you managed to talk to Elfangor the Andalite war prince, he'd say that I'm his only son.

I just stick with 'freak of nature'.

And you thought you had problems.

I spread my wings wide, trying to catch any evening thermals but pretty much failing. Stupid dead air… I sulked, though to be honest, the air was anything but dead.

The wind whipped around me, trying to shove me in the opposite direction one second, then down to the ground the next. The air was full of heavy moisture and low lying clouds slightly impaired my laser-sharp vision. I swear I even heard thunder boom from the direction of the mountains.

All in all, it was a day that would send any normal hawk scuttling back to their tree.

But, as I may have mentioned, I'm not a normal hawk.

Did I mention I'm also trying to stop an alien invasion?

Go figure.

I tried to ignore my starving belly as I flapped and struggled my way to Cassie's barn to meet the other Animorphs; Prey had been non-existent today as warnings in the air of the storm had come early enough to keep half my food hiding; the other half was hibernating. Then again, I hadn't eaten the day before, or even the day before that. I could ask one of my friends for some food, as any of them would be happy to oblige, but one thing held me back; pride.

I'm a hawk.

Hawks don't need help.

And no-one come back at me with 'but you said you're not a normal hawk'.

When it comes to everyday food, the hawk comes first.

Five minutes later, after almost falling out of the sky because of a sudden gust of wind, I soared in though the rafters and into Cassie's barn. The other Animorphs were chatting idly below me while Cassie soothed a duck with a broken wing.

Hi. I spoke in thought-speak.

Rachel looked up and flashed me her beautiful smile.

Marco was less welcoming.

"Where you been, Bird-Boy?" He demanded. "Having an evening snack?"

I wish.

"Shut it, Marco!" Rachel instantly leaped to my defence; I would have smiled if I could. "You only arrived five minutes ago; you're hardly one to lecture about being late!"

"Late. Ate. Lay-tuh" Ax mimicked, enjoying his human morph. "Tuh-tuh-tuh!" He said happily, making Marco roll his eyes dramatically.

Jake sighed.

"It's not like this is one of those do-or-die meetings anyway." He admitted, looking up at me. "After our last mission, the Yeerks have been pretty quiet."

"Perfect time to surprise them." Rachel flashed her devil-may-care grin. "I say we attack and-"

"Actually," Cassie interrupted, staring at Jake. "Jake had something else to say."

Jake smiled and scratched the back of his head. "I was getting to that." He insisted. "I-"

"You're getting married to Cassie!" Marco gushed, in mock joy. "I bagsy Maid of honour!"

Jake and Cassie blushed furiously while Rachel whacked Marco round the head. Marco grinned and stuck his tongue out. Ax looked confused.

"Hah!" Ax suddenly yelled eyes wide. "Hah-hah! Hah!"

They all stared.

"Ax…." Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Never… EVER…. Do that again."

I watched as they all laughed again.

Suddenly… suddenly I wished I was down there with them. Human. Able to mess around and laugh out loud. Able to be with them as a human without watching that deadly time limit.

It's called irony, I think.

So, what were you going to say, Jake? I asked, if for no reason than to distract me from my self-pitying thoughts; If I started self-pity, it would be hard to stop.

Cassie sent me a strange look; sometimes, I swear she can read minds.

"Well, Cassie and I thought that we should lay low over the Christmas week, I mean we send the rest of the year fighting and lying." He paused to glance at Cassie; it wasn't hard to guess who had prompted this decision. "It would be good for us to take the week off, unless something serious comes up."

"In which case we'll kick butt." Rachel grinned, causing a sigh from Cassie.

"What is this Christmas?" Ax wondered. "Mas." He added for good measure.

"A celebration where you spend time with family and-"

"You get presents!" Marco of course.

I wasn't really listening any more. Christmas? How soon? I hadn't even known. But then again what would I do now I did know? Back when I was with my uncle, this was just a season for him to get drunk.

I realised that everyone was still talking.

"-It's not just presents."

"Yeah it is! Especially when I'm getting a new bike!"

"I thought you said you were getting a new computer."

"You're buying me a computer? Too kind, Jake, too kind."

"In your dreams."

"Do you have cinnamon buns on Christmas? Mas. Massssss."

"I'm sure we can find you one."

"Hey Jake, What you getting Cassie?"

"Tobias?"

I tilted my head to look at Rachel.

Yeah?

"You Okay?"

Okay?

Course I Am. I lied.

"So…" Rachel glanced at Cassie who suddenly launched into a conversation with the others about Christmas dinners. "Were you thinking of doing anything for Christmas?" she continued, quietly.

I scolded my Hawk instincts for noticing a mouse running along the back of the barn. I couldn't exactly pounce on it in the middle of a meeting…

No.

Now was seriously not the time.

I don't know… I addressed Rachel. I might watch some corny Christmas shows on Ax's TV. I let out a dry laugh. That was all I used to do anyway.

She sent me a look I had seen directed at me way too often. A mix of pity and worry.

I hated that look.

I didn't need pity.

I was fine.

Who cared about Christmas?

Just another day.

I was fine.

Honestly.

Rachel

Tobias was obviously not fine.

I may not be Cassie, but I really like Tobias, and I can tell when something's wrong. He already worried me to death, living out in the forest with animals whose first instincts were to kill him.

He doesn't show it often, but I know there are times when he really misses being able to human things; I once went into my room to find all my maths homework done with doodles of birds and things covering the margins (It wasn't all correct but it's the thought that counts and I argued for ten minutes with the teacher about getting rid of the doodles in my book. I got to keep them in the end.).

Then again, sometimes, he really enjoys being a hawk. You can tell his northit state has given him freedom his human self never had. I really hate his relatives for giving him the pitiful childhood he'd had; one that a felt the need to fly away from.

It wasn't fair.

Oh, I hated them…

I knew his Uncle didn't live far from here but Tobias would never tell me exactly where.

I wonder why.

Sighing inwardly, I sat on a bundle of hay by Jake and raised my arm, smiling up at you-know-who. In a flash of rust-coloured feathers, Tobias swooped down and landed on my arm, trying not to hold on too hard. I kept my arm steady and stroked his chest feathers with my finger; it was the closest we could get to hugging or holding hands when he was in hawk form.

Sad?

Oh, yeah.

"I've got to get home." Jake said, suddenly. "It's a big match tonight, No way am I aloud to miss it."

"Too right." Marco agreed.

"Boys…" I muttered, shaking my head.

Yo, Ax-man? Are you taping the match on your TV? Tobias asked, teasing me.

"Of course!" Ax answered enthusiastically. "By simply connecting a few wires I am able to tape all the channels at once and-"

Yeah, I know Ax-man. You showed me.

"Did I show you my collection of my favourite 'These Messages'?"

Several times.

"Oh."

"Well, that sounds fun." Marco said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Remind me to bring popcorn."

"I'll walk you down to the bus stop." Cassie offered, grabbing a coat from next to the huge barn door. "It's not raining."

It's about to…

Cassie ignored him.

Ax suddenly turned to Tobias, while the others grabbed their stuff. "Tobias, am I clear to-?"

He didn't need to finish. This was Tobias's sort of role in our meetings. I held my arm away from my face as he took off, landing in the rafters and cocking his head to the side as to get a better look outside.

All clear. He reported.

Instantly Ax began to demorph.

Morphing is very weird.

First, blue fur spread over his body and his spine stretched. Two legs burst from his chest and his body shifted around to make room. His mouth dissolved as his tail appeared, growing choppily from the base of his spine.

"It's just a sign of how weird our lives are," Marco commented, eyeing the twin stalks that shot from Ax's head. "That none of us are running and screaming right now."

I actually found myself agreeing with him.

Marco couldn't resist one last crack as we walked through the barn door, leaving Ax to morph bird.

"I know what to get Tobias for Christmas!" He announced, grinning at his own wit. "A sugar mouse!"

Tobias must have heard because the next second we all heard a voice in our heads; Hey Ax, I know what to get Marco for Christmas; a real mouse!

Even Marco laughed at that.

"Sorry Marco," Jake smirked, "That round goes to Tobias."

Marco said something in reply but I wasn't listening anymore.

I hooked my arm through Cassie's, which is best-friend-not-really-saying-anything-but-still-meaning-something speech for; I want to talk.

Cassie

I cast a questioning look at Rachel then instantly began to slow down. Jake glanced back at us but just carried on with Marco, probably assuming we were just having a girl-to-girl-best-friend-no-boys-aloud kind of chat.

He's cool like that.

"What's up?" I asked.

Rachel looked round, searched the sky for a moment then smiled at me. "I want to give… Ax and Tobias a Christmas party."

Oh sure.

Ax and Tobias.

Still, it was a nice idea.

I was sort of thinking of the same thing, but it felt better making out that only Rachel had thought of it.

"We could surprise them in Ax's scoop! Tobias visits him all the time!"

"You really think we could actually surprise them?"

"Spoil sport."

I smiled.

"No, I think it's a great idea, we could all swap presents then too." I laughed when Rachel's eyes gleamed - honestly, if you get an idea in that girl's head, you'll never hear the end of it. "When should we do it? Tomorrow?"

"I was thinking….. Christmas Eve. That way it would be more… Christmassy."

"You really are the master of explaining things, Rachel."

"What can I say? It's a gift."

We jogged forward a bit, still linking arms, to catch up with Jake and Marco; we both suddenly felt quite proud of ourselves.

"We're having a party." I said, threading my arm through a surprised Jake's.

"What?" He asked blankly.

"We're going to surprise Ax and Tobias in Ax's scoop and have an Animorphs-only Christmas party." Rachel announced, explaining her big plan.

Before Jake could respond, Marco looked at us and snorted.

"Oooh, let me link up too!" He simpered. "Then we can all skip along and sing 'down the yellow brick road'."

"You're hilarious." Rachel sneered, de-linking to search the contents of her side bag, which obviously looked great on her.

Jake and I realised we were the only ones still linked and quickly dropped our arms, swapping a shy smile.

Marco groaned.

Jake

The next day was stormy.

As in a hale-wind-and-rain-oh-my-god-we're-all-going-to-die-stay-inside-and-hide type of storm.

Not exactly Christmas weather.

I stomped around my room, grabbing the warmest water-proof I had. Like an idiot, I had left some of my Christmas shopping until the last moment, and I hadn't had the sense to give the mall a quick visit yesterday; what can I say? The big match was on.

Stuffing a sweater over my head, I felt round for my wallet.

Wallet, wallet, wallet….

There it is!

I took a ten out, then remembered I said I would buy food for tomorrow and grabbed all the rest, stuffing it all in my pocket.

Strangely, I didn't feel bad about using all my allowance; probably because I was buying normal things, not ten pairs of shoes because I couldn't morph my trainers and had to leave them on a spaceship.

I have a weird life.

Zipping up my water-proof, I marched downstairs; I was sure I've gained a tonne, just because of all this extra padding.

Tom was just coming out of the kitchen and laughed his head off when he saw me.

Stupid Yeerk.

"What are you doing?" His snorted, putting on the old big brother act. "Playing soldier?"

"Worse." I grumbled, listening to rain pound against the roof, using it as a distraction to the fact I was wasn't talking to Tom; I was talking to a Yeerk who kept him in a state worse than death. "I'm going outside."

He raised an eyebrow.

"O-o-okay… Can I ask why?"

"No reason." I said acting innocent as I tried to squeeze past him.

"Oh I get it." He grinned, having forced the conclusion out of my brother's mind. "Someone left Cassie's present to the last minute."

I forced myself to smirk at him. "Oh shut up." I said, aiming a fake blow at his head as I got past.

He batted my hand away then shook his head, looking amused.

Stupid Yeerk.

Trouble was; he was annoyingly right.

I had no idea what to get Cassie, which is why I left it so late. I mean, what do girls like? Rachel had been easy. But what do I get Cassie?

Half a minute later, I was riding my bike to the closest store and already drenched to the bone, wind and cold making my ears sore.

Watch out world, I thought dully, here comes the fearless leader, braving the storm because he doesn't know what to get his girlfriend for Christmas…

I suddenly felt a little better, thinking of Cassie as my girlfriend.

Just then, as I was passing the entrance to a small park, something caught my eye. I paused, squinting through the rain.

A short way into the park, staggering out of a close knit orchard… Tobias?

I stepped off my bike, surprised.

I could definitely make out a teenage boy, dressed in black skin tight clothes with hair which looked like a bird's nest (no pun intended…). He was definitely staggering, looking around; I couldn't read his expression.

Suddenly he slumped against a tree, breathing heavily.

"Tobias!" I yelled, waving an arm. "Hey, Tobias! Over here!"

He instantly reacted, jerking his head in a very bird-like movement.

It was Tobias, all right.

But then… he was gone, he simply jumped out of my vision.

Concerned, I dropped my bike and jogged forward until I reached the edge of the trees.

"Tobias? Dude, you there?"

He was gone.

What was all that about?

I scanned the trees, called his name once more, and then gave up, trudging back to the street.

I wondered what Tobias had been doing. I worried about him; we all did, even though he seems happy enough living as a hawk. None of us knew exactly what it was like for him; I knew that his situation sometimes was too much for handle, like when he made his first kill. He had retreated, letting the hawk mind take over because he was so horrified at what he'd done.

Groaning, I picked up my bike which had fallen into a deep muddle puddle.

Typical. I thought, pulling a face.

The wind let up a little as I carried on, thinking what to get Cassie and deciding I would pick up a cinnamon bun for Ax.

And, hawk or no hawk, I would get Tobias something too.

I reckoned he deserved it.

Tobias

The storm blew fiercely at me, threatening to rip me from my perch on my tree. I glared down at the sodden ground, sheltering from most of the rain. I had been sitting there for hours.

I should be bored.

But I couldn't waver.

I hadn't eaten for days and days, and, though I had been sorely tempted to just fly off and find some fresh road-kill, I kept staring at my meadow; I refused to eat road-kill again, after…

Focus, the hawk scolded.

The hunger was starting to affect me, clamping round by belly like an iron maiden. I had missed a kill just this morning and felt all the more frustrated by it.

I hadn't seen anyone since the meeting.

I felt a little uncomfortable, imagining my friend's faces. Maybe I could ask one of them for some food… The idea was depressing and pathetic, going up to one of my friend's houses and practically begging for food. But I could die out here…

Before I knew it, I had launched from my tree, hurtling into the storm.

So weak…

I couldn't go to Rachel. I just couldn't. Maybe Jake? He had always looked out for me before and probably wouldn't think any less of me…

Probably…

Maybe I should scrap the whole idea, just stay glaring at my patch of field or try and find some money and simply buy a burger or something.

God, I felt so hungry that I hadn't totally crossed out grabbing whatever I saw…

What was I thinking? My mind was foggy, pitiful human emotions clashing with over-powering hawk hunger.

I circled over a clump of trees by Jake's then landed, morphing human. I needed to clear my mind…

Maybe asking Jake wasn't such a bad idea.

Forgetting how stupid I looked in just my morphing outfit, I stumbled out of the trees, blinking my dim human eyes. I scanned the area, as though I expected someone to jump out.

Suddenly, I realised how weak I felt and how choppily my chest was rising and falling. I leant against a tree.

Sometimes, everything was just too much.

"Tobias! Hey Tobias! Over here!"

I jumped out of my skin, jerking my head up.

Jake? What was Jake doing here? I did the first thing that came into my head, and ran back into the shadow of the trees, shaking.

I glanced up and made out Jake through the rain, jogging over.

I made my decision.

I forced my body to run.

What was I thinking? Asking him for food? Pathetic! Letting him see me like this? Not likely.

"Tobias? Dude, you there?" His voice floated over to me but I ignored it, already morphing.

My legs thinned and I ducked behind a dead log before they collapsed beneath me.

Too much.

Help me hawk.

As I grew more and more hawk, the hawk's mind fully came back, over-powering.

"Tobias!"

Who was that?

Jake?

Who cared about Jake?

Who cared about Christmas?

I was a hawk.

Built to be alone.

Ax

I was feeling a bit lonely.

Walking back to my scoop, I relished the last few steps of frozen crushed grass and pondered whether I should go to visit my human friends, perhaps at Cassie's barn. But, it was that strange holiday called Christmas, and I wasn't sure if I would be allowed. Today was the day before, what Prince Jake called 'Christmas Eve'.

Sigh.

I do not get this season and the 'Boxing day' seems totally irrelevant. However, I did understand that it is a time when humans gather with family members.

That got me thinking of my own family, light-years away, and I blocked out the thought, using my stalk-eyes to search the sky for Tobias.

I had not seen my best friend for a while.

I suddenly remembered that in human terms, Tobias was my nephew and, though that relationship is not as important in my home as here, he still counted as family.

Maybe he would like to share Christmas with me.

Somewhat cheered up, I galloped home, wondering whether I was missing any good 'These messages'.

Then…

I slowed, focusing all of my eyes on my scoop, just a while away…

Movement…

Yes! There it was again! Someone was in my scoop!

I felt surprised, as I had not seen any humans this anywhere deep in the forest before, and suspicious; if it was a yeerk…

I moved forwards, stepping lightly and searching the surrounding area for any hint of anything else.

It was strange, because everywhere else seemed totally unguarded.

If it was a Yeerk trap, it wasn't a very good one.

Keeping my tail at the ready, I galloped the last leg and landed right in front of the intruders, keeping my tail blade at the throat of…

Marco?

"Hi Ax…" He muttered, eyeing my blade which I quickly withdrew. "Surprise?"

I am sorry, Marco. I said, noticing the others squatting beside him. What are you doing?

"We were hiding unnoticed, thinking about how much we ruled, until you came and spotted us straight away." Marco said.

"Told you we should have morphed." Cassie said, standing up and stretching. "I've got a dead leg from sitting here."

I am confused.

Well, I was.

"We were going to surprise you and Tobias and have a Christmas party," Prince Jake explained, standing up and laughing. "I guess we couldn't quite get the 'surprise' part."

I see… I didn't. Then, is Tobias here?

"No." Rachel was now the only one still sitting; I believe her tone was annoyance. "We thought he'd be here."

I have not seen him since the meeting.

There was a few seconds of silence.

"I'm sure he's okay." Cassie said, though I wasn't sure who she was speaking to.

Prince Jake had a strange expression on his face; as though he wanted to talk but wasn't sure what to say.

Are you okay, Prince Jake?

"What?" He looked and me. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine. Oh, and Ax? Don't call me prince."

Yes Prince Jake.

He laughed, and then reached behind him for a bulging plastic bag. "Guess what's in this Ax?"

Cinnamon buns?!

Marco grabbed the bag and held it out of my reach. "You bet, Ax." He grinned. "Cinnamon Buns and Nachos and jelly babies and chocolate…"

Brown globules?!

Suddenly, this party seemed like a very good idea.

Rachel walked over to the entrance and looked around, frowning.

I was quickly morphing human, trying to reach for the goodie bag and not fall at the same time. Marco held it out to me then quickly moved it as I reached for it.

"Don't be mean, Marco!" Cassie laughed, grabbing the bag from behind him as Prince Jake steadied me; Morphing from four legs to only two is shaky work. "The food's for everyone."

Half an earth hour later, I was squirting cheese all over my nachos after Cassie said I couldn't eat all the cinnamon buns right now.

Marco was singing and dancing badly to a song while everyone else clapped and laughed; Prince Jake told me it was called 'Karaoke'.

"Like a tiger, defying the laws of gravity-y-y-y!!" Marco screamed, spinning around.

"You can't dance or sing," Rachel observed, "Talk about showbiz."

"Come and sing too Rachel!" Marco smirked. "Unless your sca-a-a-ared, Xena!" He happily dodged a pebble Rachel through at him then began screaming into a hairbrush again. "I'm burning through the sky, YEAH!"

I dipped a hand into the cheese-covered nachos and spooned them into my human mouth.

Such taste!

Salt and grease and… CHEESE!!

"Salt and grease-suh!" I shouted happily, grabbing another handful. "And, cheeeeeeeeeessssse-suh!"

Jake and Cassie ignored my outburst of cheesy pleasure, too occupied by the fact Macro had started chasing them with a small plant with white berries on.

Strange.

Rachel however, sent me a stony look.

"Save some for Tobias." She said blankly, before turning away.


Please reveiw! I'd love to know how you think it's going, and if you have any comments or ideas please reveiw!

Love you all! XD Part two coming soon.